Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-12-22
The First Chlstmas-Tre in New En-.
gland.

As soan as Mrs. Olcott was we'll rid of
Mrs. Hawley, she called her boys, and
bade them go to the pine-woods and get
the finest, handsomest Young hemlock
that they could find.
''Get one that is straight and tall, with
well-boughed branches on it. and put
it whereyou can draw it under the wood
shed, after dark" she added.
The boys went to Pine Hill, and there
they picked out the finest young tree on
all the hill, and said, eve will take this
one" So with their hatchets they hewed
it down and brought it safely home the
hext night when all was dark. And
when Roger was quietly sleeping 10 the
adjoining roum- they dragged tho traa
into the kitchen. 1t was too tall, so
they took it out again and cut off two
or three feet at the base. Then they
propped it up, and the curtains being
down over the windows, and blankets
being fastened over the curtains to pre-
vent any one looking in, and the door
being doubly barred to prevent any one
coming in, they all went to bed.
Very early the next morning, while
the stars shone on the snow-covered
hills,-the same stars that shone SIX
teen hundred years before on the hills
when Christ was born in Bethlehem
the little Puritan mother in New Eng
land arose very softly. She went out
and lit the kitchen fire anew from the
ash-covered embers. She fastened up
on the twigs of the tree the gifts she had
bought in Boston for her boys and girl.
Then she took as many as twenty
pieces of candle and fixed them upon the
branches. After that, she softly called
Rupert, Robert, and Lucy, and told
them to get up and dress come into the
kitchen.
Hurrying back, she began, with bit
of burning stick, to light the candles.
Just as the last one was set ahame, in
t .ooped the three children.
Before they had time TO to say a word,
they were silenced by their mothers
warning.
Il wish to fetch Roger in and wake
him up before it," she said. "KeeI
still until 1 come backr'
The little lad, fast asleep, was lifted
in blanket and gently carried by his
mother into the beautiful presence.
"See! Roger, my boy, seer she said
arousing him. 1T is Christmas morn.
ing now! In England they only have
Christmas boughs, but kere in New
England we have a whole Christmas
tree"
20 Motherr' he cried. 30 Lucy! /:
it really tree, and no dream at alla Yes
1 see! l see! o Mother! it is SO beauti
full! Were all the trees on the hills light
ed up that way when Christ was born
And, Mother" he added, clapping hi!
little hands with JOY at the thought
why yes, the stars did sing when Chris
was born! They must be glad, then, ant
keep Christmas, too, ia Heavea. 1 knou
they must, and there will be good time
there"
'Yes," said his mother; "There vii
be good times there, Roger"
Then" said the boy, 81 shan't min,
going, now that I've seen the Christmas
boSgh. What is that, Notherw
What tras it that they heards TIL
little Olcott homo had never befor
seemed to tremble so. There were tap
at the window, there were knocks at th
door and it was ms yet scarcely tn
break Of dayl There were voices also
shouting something to somebody.
"Sball put out the candles, Mother?
whispered Robert.
"What will they do to us for havia
the tree? 1 wish we had MT it, regret
ted Rupert; while Lucy elung to he
8 mothers gown and shrieksd with a
strength, Its IndiansT'
Pale and white and still, ready t
meet her fate, stood Mrs. Olcott, anti
out Of the knocking and the tapping {